China says it held patrols near Taiwan after US lawmaker visit

China’s military said on Sunday it carried out combat patrols around Taiwan, a move announced one day after a visiting U.S. lawmaker met with officials on the island. The statement adds another round of pressure in the Taiwan Strait, where military activity and political signaling have remained tense.

The patrol announcement from Beijing did not include details on the scale or duration of the operation. Such military messaging has become a familiar tool in China’s response to foreign visits to Taiwan, which it claims as part of its territory despite the island’s self-governing status.

The latest episode comes as Washington and Beijing remain locked in broader strategic competition, with Taiwan at the center of disputes over security, sovereignty and regional stability. Visits by U.S. lawmakers to Taipei often draw sharp reactions from China, which frames them as interference in its internal affairs.

The Reuters report says the patrols followed the trip by the American legislator, underscoring how quickly cross-strait tensions can flare after high-profile political contact. Taiwan continues to face sustained military and diplomatic pressure from China, even as it seeks to maintain its de facto independence and international support.